On Wednesday evening, Francys Romero reported that the White Sox had agreed to contract terms with 22-year-old Cuban outfielder Oscar Colas. There was competition for Colas as the player had $2 million plus offers from the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels, too. Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs linked the slugger to the Miami Marlins late last month as well. Ultimately, the White Sox will add another Cuban defector to their stable of young players for a bonus of at least $2.7 million.
Sources: White Sox expected to sign Cuban OF Oscar Colas (22) for around $2.7 M when a new international signing period opens on January 15, 2022. Several MLB teams (Mets-Angels-Marlins) were in the race for Colas, who left Cuba in early January 2020 and was a FA last December.
— Francys Romero (@francysromero10) March 25, 2021
Final race for Oscar Colas, according to sources:
— Francys Romero (@francysromero10) March 25, 2021
-White Sox: $2.7 M
-Mets: $2.5 M
-Angels: $2.0 M
Videos of the latest Colas workouts on my Youtube channel.
Full video: https://t.co/l26TonID1I pic.twitter.com/rAYGwnsnzF
Colas was declared a free agent in December 2020 and he’s eligible to sign with a major league club immediately. Due to the pandemic and the ownership side trying to nickel and dime their way to minimal revenue losses, the league took a machete to the international signing period. The period that was set to begin on July 2, 2020, didn’t officially get underway until Jan. 15, 2021. The White Sox were afforded the opportunity to spend nearly $5.4 million in that marketplace. The money was in fact spent.
Marco Paddy and his staff signed a full class of players highlighted by Cuban outfielder Yoelqui Cespedes and right-hander Norge Vera. In addition to the advanced Cuban players, the White Sox were thrilled with the collection of younger talent added out of the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Panama as well. The agreement with Colas is a continued trend for the organization. Infielder Yolbert Sanchez was the club’s top signing in the 2019 international period and the Cuban received $2.5 million.
While the organization’s strategy on the international market often leaves much to be desired in the way of Dominican teenagers, the market for more advanced Cuban talent has been cornered by the White Sox. It’s a trade that the franchise is willing to make in sacrificing potential upside for big league impact in the near future. Due to this strategy, the White Sox may ultimately lack teenage difference makers to trade to supplement their core during a winning window. They may have depth to help the big league team in short order, however. Adding prospects of this caliber with a finite resource is better than past practices of not using the resources at all.
MLB Pipeline ranked Colas as the No. 2 international prospect in the 2020 signing class behind Cespedes. The outlet has given the outfielder 60 grades for his power and arm and he’s listed at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. Colas turns 23 years old this September and he hasn’t played in meaningful games in a while. In 2019 for a minor league while playing for the Fukuoka Soft Bank Hawks in Japan, Colas hit .302 and slugged .515 with 11 homers. Over the course of three seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, Colas batted .305 with a .487 slugging percentage and nine homers.
The Cuban star has been called “The Cuban Ohtani” in the past due to his two-way ability, but he’s unlikely to ever pitch as a professional. The White Sox see a left-handed hitting power bat that can play in an outfield corner and the organization believes that he possesses “All-Star caliber tools” according to James Fegan of The Athletic. According to one source, Colas has been impressive in his recent showcases and his power and bat speed have been on full display. The changes to his conditioning show an improved level of awareness and work ethic.
Colas currently resides in the Dominican Republic. This will allow him to make himself present at the White Sox facility in Boca Chica. He can even participate in Tricky League games (back field action with other unsigned prospects) in the country as well. Colas shows an easy, short left-handed swing and a solid approach, but it won’t be evident in game action for a while. He’s run the 60 in 6.4 seconds in recent looks. Similar to Cespedes, Colas could be an option to come stateside for a White Sox affiliate as early as 2022. He may have to stay in the Dominican for tax reasons once he officially signs next January though.
Some highlights courtesy of @cubabeisbolphil:
Live BP from the Dominican in late 2020 from Francys Romero:
The White Sox track record in the market place for Cuban free agents has been unmatched. Colas can sign right now, but his best course of action is unfortunately waiting until the next period opens on Jan. 15, 2022. That is a coup for the organization and the only negative is that Colas can’t get into the system and begin his professional career any sooner. Marco Paddy and the White Sox have gotten the job done again though. This strategy could pay organizational dividends as the club shifts from rebuilding to contending on a budget.
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